Ice-creeper.



P. RUGGIEROE ICE CREEPER.

APPLICATION HYLED APR. i9, 1916.

Patented July 11, 1916.

ECE-CE'EEPESEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

llatented t l" it, Mild.

Application filed. April 19, 1916. Serial No. 92,076.

To all '11) ham it may concern:

Be it known that I, PASQUALE BU'ooinRo, a citizen of the United States residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have mvented a certain new and useful Improved lce-Creeper, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to anti-slipping devices and more particularly to 16% creepers which are adapted to be removably secured to the boot, shoe or overshoe of the wearer.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple and effective means capable of heing quickly and easily attached to the wear ers shoes and whereby the user may walk with unconcern upon ice, ice coated surfaces,

slippery pavements or the like.

A, further object of the invention is to provide an anti-slipping device which is compact, light and economical to manufacture, but embodies the essential characteristics of a safe and reliable means for preventing falls due to slipping.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can he variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instru- Inentaliti'es as herein shown and described.

Referring to'the drawings: Figure 1 represents a bottom plan of an ice creeper embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a top plan of a portion of the same showing more particularly the position of the clamping jaws.- Fig. 3 represents a section'on' line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Figpa represents a perspective of the movable clamping jaw. Fig. .5 represents a perspective of one form of auxiliary for use with the device.

Fig; 6 represents another form of auxiliary iaw.

Evimiiar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

it designates a plate of metal or othersuitahle material having a configuration which lends itself to the shape and contour of the sole, and instep of a shoe, whereby in operative position the major part out the I In the present instance, the rear portion of the plate 1 curves upwardly along the instep of a shoe and terminates in a flange 3, which is adapted to rest snugly against the heel 4 (shown dotted) while at each end of said flange 3, there is a lug These lugs 5 straddle the heel as shown in Fig. l and prevent lateral displacement of the device. Along one edge of the instep portion, the plate 1 has an integral jaw 6 suitably shaped for gripping engagement with the sole when drawn into such relation by a clamping device consisting in the present instance, of a-movalole jaw 7 and spring 8. The jaw 7 is formed as a part of a lever 9 which is pivoted at 10 to the plate 1 and has an operating finger 11 conveniently located for manual manipulation. The spring 8 is fixed at one end to the plate 1 and at the opposite end joins a lug or like holding means 12- on the lever 9.

JV hen the foregoing parts are operatively assembled, it will be evident that the movable jaw 7 is adapted to grip the sole at a .point opposite from the jaw G and since the spring is nqrmally under tension, when the jaws are separated or distended to receive ping engagement takes place to hold. the plate in position.

13 designates a protecting member suitably pivoted at 14.- to parts of the plate 1 and arranged to cover the spring and its adjuncts thus preventing objects encountered in walking from injuring the parts of the device. The member 13 also prevents the collection of mud and dirt so that the parts are protected and maintained freely operable at all times. A suitable latch or ringer 14 is preferably formed on the lever 9 for proper position by overlapping engagement. 'fiIn instances where the width of the instep of a shoe is less than the normal distance between the jaws G and 7, 1 preferably provide auxiliary jaws l5 and 16 which are designed to be readily slipped over the re spective jaws 6 and 7 and as the auxiliary members have o'ttset portions Whit is obvious 90. the shoe sole, it is apparent that a firm grip-e;

the purpose'of holding the member 13 in its through the rubber-.-

;for engaging overshoes or rubbers without injuring'the fabric. It is believed the noted, however, that i that the step. Furthermore, .are distributed' n an advantageous manner vention proper gripping action may be had. Thus for example assuming the ordinary jaws fail togrip the sole by one-eighth of an inch, then an auxiliary jaw of one-quarter inch projection would be. fitted on and consequently the device would be operative as usual. Furthermore, in connection with these auxiliary.jaws,it will be noted-that each is preferably provided with a rounded or beaded edge 18 so that in case the creeper is used attached to rubbers, thereis relatively' little danger of the jaws cutting These auxiliary jaws have a double function in the-present instance for they operate successfully as gripping devices for holding the creeper to a shoe of smaller dimension than the creeper is normally designed to fit; they also grip the normal sized shoe and also provide jaws operation of the, device is entirely clear from the foregoing description and further detailed explanation is therefore deemed unnecessary. It will be the anti-slipping means are. positioned at the most desirable place, namely, beneath the ball of the foot sincethe tendency to slip is more particularly confined to the take off or pressure exerted by the ball in advancing the body for another the anti-slipping means over the sole of the shoe so that tendency to slip' at-any point is instantly corrected by one or more of the projections coniing ,into action. i

It will now be apparent that I have dej a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of'the inand the above description and while I have in the present instance shown and de-- scribed the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. \Vhat I claim is:

1. In a device of the character stated, a

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by WashingtomILO.

plate adapted to be attached to the sole of a shoe having anti-slipping devices secured thereto and located directly beneath the ball of the foot, separate jaw members for gripping opposite sides of the shoe sole in close proximity to the heel of said shoe, means carried by said plate for engaging said heel to prevent lateral movement of said plate, spring means .for normally holding said jaws under tension to exert a clamping action and a movable cover member for protecting said spring means and its adjuncts.

2. Ina device of the character started, a plate adapted to be attached to the instep of a shoe and having a portion extending along the sole beneath the ball of the foot, said extending portion being provided with a, pluaw adapted to engage the opposite sole edge, spring means for normally maintaining said jaws under tension to exert a clamping action and auxiliary ,jaw members adapted to be removably attached respectively to said main jaw members, said auxiliary jaws being of variable dimensions whereby soles of diiferent Widths may be clamped by said jaws.

3." In a device of the character stated, a plateadapted to be attached to the instep of ashoe and having a along the sole beneath the ball of the foot, said extending portion being provided with a plurality of jaw fixed to said plate for engagement with one edgeof the sole of said shoe, a movable main. jaw adapted to engage the opposite sole edge, spring means for normally maintaining said jaws under tension to exertaa clamping action, and auxiliary jaws adapted to be removabl main jaws, sac of said-'auxilia ing a rounded or beaded-edge,

jaws havw ereby. rubbers or. overshoes may be clamped by said the fabric.

In testimony signed my name.

PASQUALE RUGGIERO.

' In'the presence of ROBERT M. BARR,

W. J. JACKSON.

addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

secured respectively to said p portion extending anti-slipping members, a main 

